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Exam Preparation

Make the exam as easy as possible for yourself! If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail!

Study Tips1.) Know your texts well

* The writer, titles, character names, places/settings* Production year and setting

2.) Get organised* Prepare a one sentence synopsis that you can use to effectively introduce each text, such as Tomorrow When the War Began is an action/adventure novel by john Marsden which represents... * Ask yourself- what text suits which question? You will become familiar with questions that focus on context, codes and conventions, characterisation, structure (orientations/resolutions) See study tip 3 which corresponds to this idea! * Create retrieval charts which will organise your text revision (an example is listed in appendix one)

3.) Practise deconstructing questions* Allow yourself 5-8 minutes to consider an example exam question. * Underline the key words and phrases, and define any words which can be stated simply. An example may be:

“The orientation of a text is crucial in positioning readers to accept key ideas”

* In your own words state what the question is asking you to do.* Which text would you use?

Introduction/ beginning. Important/ significant

Shaping of readers POV/perspective. What influences the way the reader makes meaning?

Morals/ messages/ themes

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Examination Tips

1.) Know what to expect* Ask for past exam papers/questions* Your teacher will tell you about the exam structure and format. Pay attention and write notes so that you can review them while studying. If you know how many questions you have to answer, and what kinds of questions you will be asked, you can plan your time accordingly and study specific areas of the curriculum (those curriculum documents are important – we use them to assess your work!)

2.) Use reading time effectively * Scan the paper during the reading time to get a sense of what is required* Weigh up the pros and cons of each question in your head. Select extended response questions based on your strengths. If a question lends itself to a specific text that you have studied in class use it. Showcase what you know! * Carefully read instructions and the context which is often provided before or after a question. Get a sense of the task.* Start reading the passages provided. You should read the passages in full at least twice.

3.) Take time to plan* The time allocated for each question includes working/planning time and writing time. The general rule allows approximately an hour for each question. This means that 8-10 minutes of the hour should be used for planning and 50 minutes for writing. * Annotate the paper as you read. This prompts your thinking and reading process!* It often helps to edit as you go. Reread passages as you complete them to check if it is cohesive and complete

4.) Know yourself* If you are a slow reader perhaps you will give yourself more time in the reading section. Be wary that this means less time for another section. * Write down the real times that you plan to begin and complete each question. Do not just think “I’ll give myself one hour” – write the actual time for that hour. For example, if your exam started at 2pm, and you gave yourself an hour for the reading

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studentbox.com.ausection, write 3pm on the top of the page… and STICK TO IT! Poor time management is one of the largest reasons for poor exam performance * Decide before handed the order in which you will complete the sections. You do not have to complete them in the order that they appear in the examination paper. Consider what is your weakest section? Your strongest section?

Appendix One: Retrieval Chart Text Details – Writer, date of production, genre.

Text Synopsis – One sentence.

Main characters and key plot events/scenes (no more than 3 or 4)

Main ideas/ Key themes

Context of Production –What was ‘going on’ in the world when the text was made/written?

How does this impact reader positioning?

Context of reception (you) –What was ‘going on’ in the world when you read/viewed the text?

How does this influence your response?

What conventions are used to shape your response?

Does the text challenge/ reinforce dominant ways of thinking?

Intertextual links?

What is your personal response? This is more than ‘did you like it or not?’ – consider what you have learned about the world in which you live from this text. Has your opinion changed on an issue?

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Additional important points:

Appendix Two: Vocabulary

In an exam it is often difficult to make your writing sound fluent and confident. Cohesion in a text is achieved through the use of various transitional devices. Connectives link ideas to one another across sentences and paragraphs to show logical relationships of time, cause and effect, comparison, or addition. You can also use these words at various positions within a sentence. Select approximately ten connective/transition words that you can confidently learn and use frequently in your writing. Some suggestions are listed below.

Temporal: indicates time or sequence.First, second, next, meanwhile, till, while, then, later, previously, finally, in summary

Causal: showing cause and effectBecause, for, so, consequently, due to, hence, since, accordingly, correspondingly

Additive: to add information/support your pointAlso, moreover, in this sense, in this way, above all, equally, besides, furthermore, as well as, or, now, additionally

Comparative: comparing contrasting ideas Rather, elsewhere, instead, alternatively, on the other hand

Conditionally/concessive: to make conditionsYet, still, although, unless, however, otherwise, still, despite, nevertheless